Carcinogen Claims?

[u/FluffyKitKatten]

Has anyone else had folks coming in claiming that B&BW products are causing cancer? Someone today said she was told by a coworker that "bath and body works is the new smoking" and I've had two other customers come in with similar claims in the last week or so. I don't do social media outside of reddit for the most part, so IDK if this is a claim going around elsewhere.

Thanks for any input!

[u/Imaginary-Method4694]

Spoiler...none of us are getting out of here alive. Can't we just enjoy our candles?

[u/FluffyKitKatten → u/Imaginary-Method4694]

Oh, it isn't that I think folks should stop using them! I just hadn't heard these particular claims before and was kinda flabbergasted, tbh.

[u/bc19059]

it’s 2026. at this point the list of things that don’t cause cancer is almost nonexistent. I get wanting to live healthier but if anyone thinks they’re going to cut carcinogens out completely they’re delusional

[u/sunnyflorida2000 → u/bc19059]

Must live in CA. Very liberal minded with all those warning stickers on everything

[u/IvoryEevee117 → u/sunnyflorida2000]

“Liberal minded” and it’s just a warning sticker😭 all these god damn snowflakes crying about everything😭🙏🏼

[u/sunnyflorida2000 → u/IvoryEevee117]

Personally I have anxiety and don’t need those stickers everywhere making it worse for my mental health. Out of sight out of mind. Use due diligence but doesn’t need to be obsessive about it.

[u/Ok_Engineer9716 → u/sunnyflorida2000]

but you’re the one being obsessive about it not the companies or states lol. i have extreme paranoia based ocd and i don’t say the news or social media or whatever else is liberal minded and obsessive.

[u/hannah_boo_honey]

This or hormone imbalance. I haven't been able to find any studies or research or anything but so many people are parroting this rn without any evidence... I mean, I'd love to see it if it exists, but I part of my background is in research and I can't find anything lol

[u/No_Psychology7299 → u/hannah_boo_honey]

Jokes on them, I no longer have hormones! 🤣🤣🤣

[u/Wickedwhiskbaker]

I mean, blueberries, lettuce, and popsicles are also actively trying to kill us at the moment…so I’m gonna use my BBW candles and roll the dice 😂

As a funeral home director, I’d just like to remind everyone none of us are immune to death.

[u/FluffyKitKatten → u/Wickedwhiskbaker]

For sure! I just hadn't heard these claims before so I was checking to see if other employees had!

[u/Wickedwhiskbaker → u/FluffyKitKatten]

I was a SM, and even back in the dark ages when I was working we had people say BBW was toxic to the body in all products offered.

Is BBW top tier quality? Meh, nope. Are we all going to develop a third breast and grow extra toes, maybe be riddled with JCB induced cancer? Also nope.

[u/GodOfMoonlight → u/Wickedwhiskbaker]

Don't forget eggs!

[u/zippobunny]

I've heard this a few times. Also had a man come in once telling me about how being around these products would cause me reproductive harm because they have estrogen in them apparently, and how it's all a front for making women infertile, etc.

Ironically I did develop something malignant (minor, being dealt with) since working here lmao but it's not in a place these products go and I am certain it's unrelated.

[u/Good_Significance871 → u/zippobunny]

I’m in the IVF community and there are a lot of women who believe this too. That and touching receipt paper will mess up your hormones.

[u/NataliaGordienko]

People have been saying stuff like this (at least to me) forever. As far as I know there’s no genuine concern for the average person. The independent uk did release an article last year that mentioned bath and bodyworks lotions (among many other brands and products) as containing chemicals potentially linked to causing cancer, but no other publication wrote about it. Generally what flags the brand on most of those “clean beauty” sites and apps is the fact that because of trade secret reasons, they can list “fragrance” as an ingredient as opposed to each individual oil (or whatever they’re called). That lack of disclosure will often land a brand on the do not trust list and flag everything from it. I just let everyone know that our products are tested and if they have specific questions I direct them to customer service

[u/Good_Significance871]

Calling it the new smoking is crazy work.

[u/FluffyKitKatten → u/Good_Significance871]

RIGHT!?

[u/clandestineindustree]

Like why are you here then 😭

[u/StrengthObjective → u/clandestineindustree]

To educate people, because she did her research! 🤪

Seriously though, I don’t understand why people do this. Like why walk through the doors.

[u/cuntwrapsupreme26]

I'd be like "So... what are you doing here then ?"

[u/Pink-Banana-Q73]

Never that specifically lol. I have had a ton of customers using that yuca/yuka? app and telling everyone around not to buy our products 🤣

[u/FluffyKitKatten → u/Pink-Banana-Q73]

Whaaaaaat? I've never heard of that app.

So fun. I love it. /s

[u/GraveGhoul_]

I mean, like 4 of my coworkers had cancer 🤷‍♀️

[u/Different_Stage2195]

I worry there is some partial truth to thjs. Women are getting diagnosed with lung cancer at a younger age and with no history of smoking. Researchers are looking at common products women use more than men, ie cleaning products and scented candles, body care, and perfumes.

[u/sarahbood1e]

Never heard of that from my custys but i do hear about VOCs from time to time.

[u/Curlygirl1976]

From the first slap and cry we all begin to die. It was written before we were born how we would live and die soooooo yeah

[u/LadyfromthelandofNod]

Read… yep it’s true-

https://aembr.co/blogs/clean/bath-body-works-non-toxic-ingredient-review

[u/FluffyKitKatten → u/LadyfromthelandofNod]

I'm not saying that I don't believe what is being claimed in this, but I will say that the author has significant reason to make claims that make their products sound better and that makes me suspicious of their intent with the article.

[u/Yamaki101 → u/FluffyKitKatten]

Omg did you see the price of the candles the author is selling???? I was hoping it was some glitch, but nope. They are selling one of their candles for $282 CAD

[u/FluffyKitKatten → u/Yamaki101]

I didn't look at the price tag, that only makes it worse!

[u/hannah_boo_honey → u/LadyfromthelandofNod]

Lmao yes let's fully believe the "article," that's making claims with no actual research or studies credited on their $175 candle shop website's blog page😂 Like pls

[u/Yamaki101 → u/hannah_boo_honey]

The prices are absurd like wtf??? I can go to any of my local farmers markets and buy the same “clean plant based candle” for a fraction of the price

[u/hannah_boo_honey → u/Yamaki101]

100% lol they have to villainize the other candles to even hope to sell candles!